The Ageless Warrior Lab

Dave Meyer | Host, Ageless Warrior Lab podcast | Co-founder and CEO of Food System Innovations and Humane American Animal Foundation

David Meyer is a pioneering American Brazilian Jiu Jitsu practitioner, and accomplished non-profit founder and Philanthropist.

David co-founded and served as CEO of Adopt-a-Pet.com for two decades, turning it into the world’s largest nonprofit homeless pet adoption website and helping save millions of animals, before its acquisition by Mars Inc.

Today, David leads Food System Innovations and Humane America Animal Foundation, leading in farm animal welfare and the protein transition movement. He frequently advises U.S. lawmakers on these issues, and has raised and deployed over $160 million in philanthropic capital as part of his work in the nonprofit space.

In his athletic career, David has risen to the highest ranks of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ). He earned his black belt from Rigan Machado in 1996 and ranked among the first Americans (“the Dirty Dozen”) to do so. He was the first American to medal at the black belt level at the BJJ World Championships in Brazil in 1998, and continues to compete, winning world championship titles in his age division.

As a martial artist and instructor, he taught at UCLA, Steven Seagal’s Tenshin Dojo, and developed globally used grappling curricula with John Will, including customized material for Chuck Norris’s UFAF association.

Meyer also played a critical role in post-Katrina animal rescue, co-authored key books on BJJ and pet care, and co-founded a Haiti orphanage for children with HIV, exemplifying a lifetime of impactful leadership in both martial arts and philanthropy.

David resides in the San Francisco Bay, and continues to coach BJJ athletes while actively managing Food System Innovations and Humane America Animal Foundation.

Contributors

Host

Dave Meyer

Dave began training Jiu Jitsu in 1968. He then began training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in 1990 and is one of the first American BJJ black belts (the Dirty Dozen). He holds a 6th degree black belt, trained by Rigan, Jean Jacques, Carlos, John and Roger Machado.

He was the first American to win a medal at the black belt level at a BJJ World Championship. He and John Will to created grappling/MMA curriculums used by nearly 1,000 martial arts schools worldwide, including for Chuck Norris and his association. .

Dave has trained with UFC fighters and taught seminars around the world. He authored the book “Training for Competition: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and Submission Grappling,” and co-authored “The Triangle”.

He is also passionate about animal welfare. He co-founded Adopt-a-Pet.com, and co-led the pet rescue in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.

Producer

Robbie Lockie

Robbie is a digital editor, producer and content creator based in London.

Guests

Guest

Professor John Will

One of the most influential Martial Artists of the past two decades, John Will’s accomplishments within the industry are prolific. In the seventies and early eighties he trained extensively throughout Indonesia, Thailand, India and Japan. He was a multi-style Black Belt back when such things just did not happen.

In the 80’s he founded Blitz, Australia’s Leading Martial Arts Magazine, which has since grown to dominate the marketplace here in Australasia. In the late 80’s he switched focus to the USA, where he began training with the likes of World Kickboxing Champion, Benny ‘the Jet’ Urquidez, Gene LeBell and the Machado brothers.

After several training trips to Brazil and numerous more to LA, he introduced the art of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to Australian shores. The 1st Australian to be awarded his Black Belt in that art, he founded BJJ Australia, the largest single BJJ organization outside of Brazil.